Bun-Eolas d'Aistritheoirí­ Gaeilge / Basic Information for Irish-language Translators

An Caighdeán Oifigiúil / Standardized Grammar and Spelling

• Gramadach na Gaeilge agus Litriú na Gaeilge (Oifig an tSoláthair)
• Graiméar Gaeilge na mBráithre Críostaí­ (An Güm)

Foinsí­ Téarmaí­ochta / Terminology Sources

• Acmhainn.ie - Terminology and general translation support)
• Achtanna an Oireachtais / Acts of the Oireachtas  (bilingual)  
• Foclóir Parlaiminte (bilingual, parliamentary and allied terms, ROI and NI).
• Bunachar náisiúnta téarmaí­ochta don Ghaeilge / National terminology database for Irish   (developed by Fiontar at Dublin City University with collaboration and partial funding from Foras na Gaeilge)
• Nathanna Cainte don Raidió/Irish Phrases for Radio (Foras na Gaeilge/Broadcasting Commission of Ireland)
• Terminology Office, Dublin: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

There are about two dozen specialised terminology dictionaries published by An Gúm. Most of this material is available from the website www.acmhainn.ie mentioned above or on CD-ROM Taisce Téarmaí­ochta.

Eolas Ginearálta / General Information

Under the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, the North-South Language body, Foras na Gaeilge (with offices in Dublin and Belfast), has responsibility for the promotion of the Irish Language in both jurisdictions. There are small differences in terminology, reflecting different educational and administrative systems, between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, but these are not of great significance. An office in Stormont deals with N.I. parliamentary matters in Irish and a dedicated unit at St. Mary's University College, Belfast 12 (An tÁisaonad Oideachais Ghaeilge) serves mainly Irish-language educational needs.

Grammatically, NI clients may prefer the Northern or Ulster style for the dative case, i.e. aspiration in the dative singular, where southern (Dublin) standard has eclipsis.

The Dáil Translation Service (Dublin) is responsible for translating Acts of the Oireachtas (legislature) into Irish. This was originally the body holding authority for standardization, certainly as regards legal terminology.

A Terminology Committee, first established in the early years of the southern state, was revived in 1968 for the purpose of providing terminology for the educational sector in the state. The remit of this body has extended in practice and it now provides a service for a wider constituency of users of Irish. Originally established under the aegis of the Department of Education & Science, it appears currently to operate as part of Foras na Gaeilge.

At present Foras na Gaeilge is in the preliminary stages of creating a major new English/Irish dictionary. Their website (with many useful links) is http://www.forasnagaeilge.ie.